FAQ

Q: So, how does this work

A: First, you need a host and a domain name. If you don’t have those yet, please consider the recommended providers linked in my sidebar! After those have been taken care of, I’ll need some technical info about them. Please be prepared to forward all email communication from those parties to me.

You’ll then choose your design package and any extra Site Add On options you’d like, add them to your cart, and finish your purchase. If you have pre-sale questions or aren’t sure which package is right for you, feel free to contact us first!

After purchase, you’ll be asked to fill out a questionnaire that will give us the basic info we need to get started on your project, and will contact you as soon as possible (usually between 11:00 am and 5:00 pm Eastern time the same or next weekday) to get any additional information we may need before presenting you with a first draft.

We work pretty quickly, and can generally have a first draft of your header image for you to take a look at within a few days. At that point, you will have the option to either have us continue (and make full package payment if you haven’t already) or receive a refund of your package or deposit price less $10.00.

Full turnaround from our receiving all info needed to turning your completed site* over to you on your server is approximately 1 week, but please allow ample time when you’re making plans for your business.

*Please keep in mind that you will be responsible for populating your site with your pages, info, and item listing posts. Though we do allow you to park your site on our server while you add your content, please allow time for resolution of move related issues above and beyond the 1 – 2 week design time.

Q: What if I already have hosting and a domain name?

A:  Please be sure that your chosen host provides at least one MySQL (version 4.0 or greater) database, PHP version 4.3 or greater, phpMyAdmin access, and FTP access to your account (FTP access is mandatory).

Q: Why only the Blix theme?

A: Because we’re familiar with it, which keeps your cost down. If you’re interested in implementing another theme (not just changing the coloring or decoration on Blix), let’s talk! we’ll let you know how much we’d charge for the service of modifying it for use with a goashleygo.com site package once we’re able to look over the theme files ourselves.

Q: What if none of your packages include a specific feature I need for my site?

A: See the Site Add On options. Chances are it’s available there. If not, we can probably find a Wordpress plugin or widget to make it happen, so choose the Extra Plugin Add On option.

Q: What does “code tweaks (limited)” mean in regard to theme customization?

A: Think of the theme as a house you’re interested in buying. Though the bones of it cannot be modified without extensive renovation, walls can be repainted, doorknobs, cabinet hardware, lighting, and plumbing fixtures can all be changed. The sorts of things available for tweaking are things like placement of the header graphic (white space between it and the top navigation, or no), size of the top navigation bar and font, page font, look of the sidebar headings, etc. Let us know what you have in mind when we consult, and we’ll see what we can do!

Please be sure to read the “What Can It Do?” and “What CAN’T It Do?” pages in the sidebar before purchase! If you need a feature that isn’t offered or need something with a more custom look, we may be able to custom code it for an additional fee.

Q: What is “ongoing basic support”?

A: “Basic support” means that we’ll be available if you ever run into a problem with your site. If it’s something that we can easily fix, we’re happy to do so at no charge. If we determine that your issue is beyond the scope of “basic support,” we’re happy to discuss hourly rates with you depending on what the problem may be.

Wordpress as well as the plugins used to power your site periodically come out with updated versions. It is highly recommended that you upgrade when notified of these to keep security at it’s highest. We are available to do Wordpress upgrades as they come out for a flat fee of $25 and plugin upgrades for a flat fee of $5 (though I cannot guarantee that plugins and widgets you are currently using will be compatible with new versions of Wordpress or each other, I will do my best to either fix the problems or install and configure comparable plugins that are compatible). Please DO NOT wait when prompted to upgrade, or you may very well end up with a hacked site!

Q: What are credit links and why can’t I remove them (or have you do so)?

A: The Wordpress script and any plugins and themes that I use to build your site are considered open source, and therefore provided to all of us at no cost. I’m able to build your site for the low price I charge because I’m not having to pass the cost of hours and hours of programming and coding the functional parts of the website that these scripts (pieces of code) provide ready made on to you. Because Wordpress, plugins, and themes are provided to us for free, we need to leave the links to the creators of these things intact. As you can see on goashleygo.com, these links are quite inconspicuous, and don’t affect the design at all :) Also, please keep in mind that since you’re paying for my services, no credit to me is required on your finished site (though I won’t argue if you ask me to add one!) The copyright in the footer will list your site’s name on your finished site, not goashleygo.

Q: What features are in use on goashleygo.com?

A: This site uses Wordpress with:

• Blix theme (original colors) tweaked with squared off top nav and sidebar headings, sidebar headings right aligned, Categories in top nav, and standard background pattern
• FatFreeCart shopping cart plugin
• List View page template for all product listing pages
• Gallery View page template on Portfolio page with Lightbox2 plugin
• Contact Form 7 plugin
• Sociable social bookmarking plugin (displays “Share and Enjoy” links)
• Small page bottom graphic (which Id probably charge the extra plugin price for)
• Custom coded rotating header images and background patterns (for example purposes only)

Q: Can I ask you a few more questions before deciding to buy a package?

A: Sure! Feel free to contact us any time using the form on our Contact page :)

Q: So what else could I do on my site that you haven’t done here?

A: Lots of things (some may require extra plugins)!

• Keep an actual blog page as your front page (rather than a welcome) or anywhere on your site. Use it to post news about your business, how far along you are with certain custom orders, etc.
• Run a lotto! Create a post with commenting turned on, and let your visitors enter by commenting on it.
• Use the Recent Posts sidebar widget to display a few of your recently added items.
• Enable the commenting system and allow your customers to post item-specific raves for the world to see. You can even put the latest ones in your sidebar using the Recent Comments widget, or even use a plugin to auto-send “thanks for your comment” emails!
• Post tutorial videos on how to use your products on your YouTube account, and link to them on the items page or in the sidebar.
• Put your Twitter tweets in your sidebar for your customers to follow.
• Invite guest crafters to sell on your site. Just give them their own category and register them as a posting level user (you will have to accept and forward payments for them).
• Create a Picasa or Flickr account and invite your customers to upload their photos of your product in use there. Use a widget or plugin to automatically display them in your sidebar or on a brag page.
• Add social bookmarking to your posts (items). Get “spotted” all over the Internet!
• Just about anything else you can think of…have a look at over 6,000 Wordpress plugins!